Bride of Young Frankenstein - 1957 Buick Super

[drewskiren]

Originally Posted by kenbotron

Hi Drew!

First off, let me just say how awesome The Bride is coming along. I really love the body lines of most Buicks, and I think the C pillar of the Super is just fantastic in its own Ford Edsel, beautiful-because-its-not kind of way.

I was having a conversation with one of my gear-head friends last night and we started talking about second gen crew cab C10s. I have seen a few pictures of peoples' projects that have two C10 cabs stuck together, but it leaves the silly looking trapezoidal window in the back. I did some searching around and stumbled upon your project: Young Frankie. This was at about 7pm-ish, and I read on and off until I finished the entire 152-page thread at around 2am. Whoa. Today I dove right into this thread too, I just couldn't wait to start.

I'm 20, and I have developed an ever-growing love for cars since I was about 12. My dad would always take me to the local car show every year and point out cars from his childhood. We live in Lake George, NY and the town hosts a car show early every September (it's called Adirondack Nationals if you care to check it out) where I would oggle over the engineering masterpieces. As I'm sure Biz is doing right now, senior year of high school was a time that I had to really think about what I want to do later in life. Combining my love for cars and my drive to own a small business, I decided to attend Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Western NY (about 4.5 hours from home). I'm now about halfway through my fourth semester as a double major Mechanical Engineering and Business Management student with a minor in marketing. The end goal is to have my own hot rods/resto/customs shop specializing in 50s-70s American cars.

Getting back to both your threads, it's awesome to see the fabrication you're doing. The resto-mod (or at least that;s what I'd categorize it as) that is Frankie is literally an engineering wonder. My jaw dropped so many times while reading that thread that my neck is a little sore. I've always been a little scared to start tearing apart frames, but from what I can see so far with the Bride, you don't seem to have that same fear, haha.

If I ever have the chance to meet you, I'd be honored to shake your hand and have a chat. You seem to be doing exactly what I dream of doing someday, and I'm jealous that you get to share such incredible experiences with your kids. I wish I could have shared the same experiences with my dad. I really want to do some kind of a project with him but our schedules don't line up well at all, I wish we had been able to do something while I was still in high school.

Anyway, I made an account on this forum specifically to write this comment. I'm subscribed now and cannot wait to see more progress!! Thanks so much for the inspiration and commitment to the projects. You have certainly motivated and inspired me!

Thanks for all the props, and I'm glad to inspire! I wish the internet was around when I was your age, I would be so much better and more learned than I am now. It's almost like cheating how you can just watch a video online and learn all the tricks. (Or follow a blog)

[drewskiren]

Check out my awesome CUSTOM fathers day present made up of nuts and bolts from lots of previous projects. Lots of Frankie and The Bride leftovers, thanks Sarah!

[High Desert]

Drew, I wish I could say that I am moving at even half of the speed you have been. When you bought the coupe, I immediately used some of the money to get the convertible's engine apart and over to the machine shop. It was in pretty bad shape. The engine-killing culprit wound up being green gas which froze some intake valves back in the early 70s (see the bent push-rod and the broken rocker in the attached photo). It came back looking great. I located a set of the correct 1957 hubcaps, and had the radiator re-cored$. I would like to find an NOS oil-pump (which is also a vacuum pump) before putting the engine back together, but they have been extremely difficult to find. I'm also searching for a fuel-tank since mine was nothing but rust being held together by a thin layer of exterior galvanization. Even though every 1957 Buick shares the same exact tank design, nobody makes them new, and I don't love the idea of putting a cruddy old one back in the car.

I am obligated to keep the convertible period-correct and as original as possible, so it is extremely fun to watch your build and your ability to sidestep delays with innovative solutions.

I miss having the coupe around for reference, but it is so nice to have that room in the workshop to make messes.

[flashed]

Hey High Desert ,can you get a close up shot of one of those hubcaps sometime ?Im trying to identify some old ones I have .

[drewskiren]

Don, I have a spare gas tank from my Super and it look pretty good. I also have an entire 4 door parts car that I haven't taken the first part off of. 2 barrel 250 HP engine, but probably the same oil pump.

[Hard Luck]

That's great! You got one of the good ones there.

[Palf70Step]

Very Nice.

[1985-GMC]

Very cool!

[flashed]

Now that is just plain cool ,way to go Biz .

[lv2tri2]

Just found this thread but now I have to see it finished.

[drewskiren]

Originally Posted by lv2tri2

Just found this thread but now I have to see it finished.

We've been hard at the stripping of paint and undercoat, but too boring for pics and updates.

[Palf70Step]

Very nice Drew. That should help make the basting easier.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work on the trunk lid fitment and very cool new tool!

[drewskiren]

Last Chance Biz can work on the Roadie since she is leaving for COLLEGE!!! Booooo, I'm gonna miss that girl. We have sanded off most everything here and now she is all geared up for the acid etching. This will keep it from rusting any further until I can get it in epoxy primer.

Next step.... Rotisserie!

[drewskiren]

Got her up on the tilt-a-whirl and what a difference it makes!!! We've been chiseling the undercoating off for about a week straight now, and there would be no way to do this lying on your back. The undercoating saved this car for sure and looks pretty intact.... until you chisel a spot that started rusting from the top down and the undercoating is just hiding it. We absolutely have to get every bit of it off and start from ground zero. Andrew is helping out as the "Pixie Dust Spreader" at the Tilt-a-Whirl. (name that movie)

[TennesseeZ]

Lookin good Drew

[NONHOG]

The "Government plastic in my head" movie? Sorry, "I gotta eat so I can take my back pills".

[Gokart Mozart]

Turn that thing off and get in the house!

[mcbassin]

Very nice progress! that shot of the crew hauling off the rusty frame is priceless!
Loving the rotisserie.

[snipescastle2]

wish I would have had a rotisserie when I started my cab work (my uncle actually had one, but somebody else was using it at the time. Great progress Drew! Your Daughter will be very surprised to see the progress when she comes home from college next break! If even to see it in epoxy primer!
Have a good one!
Be

[66Slabside]

It looks great, but at the rate it's taking to get it done you'll be there until Christmas and "Well, I don't know what to say, except its Christmas, and we're all in misery."

[NONHOG]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQXuazYI_YU

[drewskiren]

File this under: not worth posting.

Just filling in some brackets and pockets for front end support and made these lower control arm mounts for the rear IRS. The little round mount is actually part of the unibody of the white Jaguar.... almost forgot about that donor car!

[Palf70Step]

[flashed]

X2